Electrical connector with improved contacts

Abstract

An electrical connector ( 1 ) for mounting to a circuit board includes a dielectric housing ( 10 ) and a number of conductive contacts ( 20 ) positioned in the housing. The dielectric housing has a mounting surface and a top surface opposite thereto, and defines a number of passageways ( 11 ) extending therein and opened to the top surface. Each conductive contact has a body portion ( 22 ) secured in the passageway of the dielectric housing, a mating portion ( 21 ) extending from one end of the body portion, a stretch portion ( 23 ) extending from the other end of the body portion, and a solder portion ( 24 ) connected with the stretch portion and extending outwardly.

1. An electrical connector for mounting to a circuit board, comprising:
 a dielectric housing defining a mounting face and a top face opposite thereto, said dielectric housing defining a plurality of passageways extending therethrough and opened to the top face; and 
 a plurality of conductive contacts each having a rectangular body portion secured in the passageway of the dielectric housing, a mating portion extending from one edge of the body portion and beyond the top face, a stretch portion extending from the other edge of the body portion, and a solder portion connected with the stretch portion and extending outside of the dielectric housing; wherein said stretch portion is deflectable with respect to the body portion after the contacts are soldered on said circuit board; and wherein 
 said dielectric housing further defines a recess proximate the passageways and communicating therewith, the stretch portions of the conductive contacts being received in the recess. 
 
     
     
       2. The electrical connector as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said mating portion further includes a contact portion and a spring portion, and wherein the spring portion is located between the contact portion and the body portion. 
     
     
       3. The electrical connector as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said stretch portion has a slanted S-shape. 
     
     
       4. The electrical connector as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the spring portion includes a first arc portion connected with the contact portion, a third arc portion connected with the body portion, and a second arc portion located therebetween. 
     
     
       5. The electrical connector as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the width of the spring portion is substantially equal to the thickness of the conductive contact and the width of the body portion is larger than the thickness of the conductive contact. 
     
     
       6. The electrical connector as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the width of the stretch portion is substantially equal to the thickness of the conductive contact and the width of the body portion is larger than the thickness of the conductive contact. 
     
     
       7. The electrical connector as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a spacer defining a plurality of cavities and received in the recess, wherein the solder portions of the conductive contacts are extending through the cavities. 
     
     
       8. The electrical connector as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the dielectric housing defines a pair of wing portions at two sides thereof, and wherein each wing portion includes an opening for receiving a fastener to thereby secure the connector on the circuit board. 
     
     
       9. A conductive contact adapted for being received in a dielectric housing and mounted to a circuit board to electrically connect with a complementary component, comprising:
 a body portion adapted for interferentially engaging with said dielectric housing; 
 a mating portion extending from one edge of the body portion; 
 a stretch portion extending from the other edge of the body portion; and 
 a tail portion connecting with the stretch portion; 
 wherein the mating portion is deflectable in a direction Z and the stretch portion is movable in directions X, Y and Z. 
 
     
     
       10. The conductive contact as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said mating portion further includes a contact portion and a spring portion, wherein the spring portion is located between the contact portion and the body portion. 
     
     
       11. The conductive contact as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said stretch portion defines a first slanted U-shaped portion and a second slanted U-shaped portion. 
     
     
       12. The conductive contact as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the spring portion includes a first arc portion connected with the contact portion, a third arc portion connected with the body portion, and a second arc portion located therebetween. 
     
     
       13. The conductive contact as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the width of the spring portion is substantially equal to the thickness of the conductive contact and the width of the body portion is larger than the thickness of the conductive contact. 
     
     
       14. An electrical connector assembly comprising:
 a printed circuit board defining a plurality of through holes; 
 an insulative housing positioned upon the printed circuit board and defining a plurality of passageways extending therethrough; 
 a plurality of contacts retainably disposed in the corresponding passageways, respectively; and 
 each of said contacts defining a soldering tail extending from a main body thereof and outside of the housing; wherein 
 said solder tail includes a straight end extending through the through hole and soldered to the printed circuit board and a serpentine section above said straight end so as to provide horizontal deflection thereof; 
 
       wherein said serpentine section further provides vertical deflection thereof; 
       wherein said serpentine section defines thereof a basic axis extending obliquely relative to the printed circuit board.